Ludogorets Razgrad will host Athletic Bilbao at the Ludogorets Arena on Thursday in an important UEFA Europa League clash. Both teams have had contrasting fortunes in the competition so far, with the hosts struggling and the visitors enjoying a strong start.
Ludogorets Razgrad’s Europa League Struggles
The Bulgarian champions have endured a tough beginning in the Europa League, taking just one point from their first three matches. After a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Slavia Prague and a goalless draw against Viktoria Plzen, Ludogorets faced a 2-0 defeat to Anderlecht in their most recent European outing. However, despite their struggles on the continental stage, Ludogorets have been dominant domestically, winning 11 out of 12 league games to sit comfortably at the top of the Bulgarian First League
Athletic Bilbao’s Strong Start
In contrast, Athletic Bilbao has been impressive in their Europa League group, remaining unbeaten with two wins and one draw. Aitor Paredes scored a late equalizer against Roma in Rome, and the Basque side followed it up with a 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar and a 1-0 victory against Slavia Prague. However, Bilbao has struggled in La Liga, with just one win in their last five league matches. Despite this, they will head into Thursday’s fixture as the stronger side, with a good record in European competitions.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Ludogorets will be missing several key players due to injuries and suspensions. Anton Nedyalkov, Jakub Piotrowski, and Bernard Tekpetey are unavailable, while Caio Vidal and Pedro Naressi will serve suspensions. Brazilian attacker Erick Marcus, who has been in great form, is expected to start.
For Bilbao, Unai Simón, Mikel Jauregizar, and Gorka Guruzeta are all sidelined, while Oihan Sancet’s availability remains uncertain after an ankle injury. Alex Berenguer could earn a starting spot after his impactful performance as a substitute in their 1-1 draw with Real Betis.
Match Prediction: Ludogorets 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
While Ludogorets have been dominant at home in domestic competitions, their poor record against Spanish teams in European tournaments — with eight losses in as many encounters — suggests they will struggle against the well-rounded Bilbao squad. Athletic Bilbao’s solid defensive form and offensive quality, including players like Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams, should see them edge out a narrow victory.
Betting Tips:
- Result: Athletic Bilbao to win
- Goals: Over 2.5 goals
- Second Half Goals: Yes, at least one goal in the second half
- First Team to Score: Athletic Bilbao
Live Streaming Info
In the United States, you can catch the exciting Europa League clash between Ludogorets and Athletic Bilbao on TUDN. The match will be available live on television via TUDN, and you can also stream it on the TUDN app for on-the-go viewing.
